The Chargers, all told, have seven selections to use in this month's NFL Draft. In a way, they took their first rookie a year ago.

Guard Johnnie Troutman, a 2012 fifth-round choice, is healthy and expected to push for a starting job. It's his first real opportunity after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle about a year ago, forcing him to undergo surgery days before the April draft.

That ended his first season before it began.

This, he said, is his second chance.

"Most definitely," Troutman said in a phone interview this week. "I haven't really shown anybody anything on film, so it's definitely a rookie year for me and other people looking at me."

He is not a typical rookie.

Troutman, who characterizes his body at “100 percent” health now, said he grew from the months off the field.

He studied the veterans' habits, learning what constitutes being a pro. He observed film-room corrections from Hal Hunter and Mike Sullivan, then the offensive line coaches. As part of the new staff, they were replaced by Joe D'Alessandris and Andrew Dees, and Troutman sees a benefit to that, too.

During the first week of voluntary offseason workouts, offensive terminology basics were introduced.

“It's a whole new offense that we all have to learn,” Troutman said. “It's basically starting from ground one to move forward every day to get the whole offense in. I think it's the best thing for me because if it's the old coaching staff, you're thrown into the mix and you have to learn the whole thing. This way, (all the) vets have to learn it, so the learning curve doesn't have to be that great because we're all learning the same stuff.”

The Chargers will have a different look in 2013 at the guard position.

Starting left guard Tyronne Green is a free agent and right guard Louis Vasquez is a Bronco. They combined for 1,813 offensive snaps in 2012. Rex Hadnot, their top backup, saw 316 snaps and is a free agent.

David Molk took about 10 snaps at guard, most of any returner.

He is a center.

Veteran guards Chad Rinehart and Rich Ohrnberger were added in free agency, but all roles and roster statuses will become more clear over the course of training camp.

As for Troutman, he primarily played on the left side at Penn State but said he's comfortable at either spot. He has it under good authority he'll have the chance to compete.

Tom Telesco liked Troutman coming out of college, the Chargers GM said last month. In particular, he valued the 25-year-old blocker's power element to his game that comes while maintaining short-area athleticism in pass protection.

“I'm excited he's here,” Telesco said. “He's definitely in the mix to play. ... I've told him, 'Look, you're competing for that job.' Not that I'd have to tell him that, but I wanted to make sure he knew we expected big things out of him.”

Troutman's injury came last April while bench-pressing in his hometown gym.

It was no secret he'd likely miss the season.

The Chargers considered him worth the wait, and Troutman hasn't forgotten it.

"Ask any player that comes anywhere,” Troutman said. “They want to prove to themselves and their teammates that they're reliable. They can go out there and perform and perform well. If you can't do that, you won't be here. I definitely want to go out there and show my teammates, the coaching staff and everyone that they made a good decision by drafting me. I'll do that by practicing well and playing well and performing well on Sundays."